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I Didn't Know It Was Loaded
Bob Ruark's mad melange of personalities, gripes, anecdotes, and satire cover every facet of American life, from sports to fashion--- both male and female. Take a look at some of the chapter heading.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1980
33 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ruark
76 books83 followersRobert Ruark was an author and syndicated columnist.
Born Robert Chester Ruark, Jr., to Charlotte A. Ruark and Robert C. Ruark, a bookkeeper for a wholesale grocery, young Ruark attended local schools and graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. He graduated from high school at age 12 and entered the University of North Carolina at age 15. The Ruark family was deeply affected by the Depression, but despite his families' financial travails, he earned a journalism degree from the University of North 'Carolina at Chapel Hill.
During World War II Ruark was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Ruark served ten months as a gunnery officer on Atlantic and Mediterranean convoys.After the war Ruark joined the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. As the New York Times said, Ruark was "sometimes glad, sometimes sad, and often mad--but almost always provocative." Some of his columns were eventually collected into two books, I Didn't Know It Was Loaded (1948) and One for the Road (1949).As he grew in notoriety, Ruark began to write fiction; first for literary magazines, and then his first novel, Grenadine Etching in 1947.
After he began to gain success as a writer, Ruark decided that it was time to fulfill a lifelong dream to go on safari to Africa. Ruark took an entire year off and began a love affair with Africa.As a result of his first safari, Ruark wrote Horn of the Hunter, in which he detailed his hunt.
In 1953, Ruark began writing a column for Field & Stream magazine entitled ''The Old Man and the Boy''. Considered largely autobiographical (although technically fiction), this heartwarming series ran until late 1961.
Ruark's first bestselling novel was published in 1955. It was entitled Something of Value and was about the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya.
Sometimes belittled as “the poor man’s Hemingway,” Ruark has nevertheless retained a loyal following among fans of nature writing. Bland Simpson wrote that he produced “some of the best ‘portraiture in words’ of hunting, fishing and life in the field that we have.”
Ruark died in London on July 1, 1965 most likely as a result of alcoholism.
Robert Ruark is buried in Palamos, Spain.
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_R...
Born Robert Chester Ruark, Jr., to Charlotte A. Ruark and Robert C. Ruark, a bookkeeper for a wholesale grocery, young Ruark attended local schools and graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. He graduated from high school at age 12 and entered the University of North Carolina at age 15. The Ruark family was deeply affected by the Depression, but despite his families' financial travails, he earned a journalism degree from the University of North 'Carolina at Chapel Hill.
During World War II Ruark was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Ruark served ten months as a gunnery officer on Atlantic and Mediterranean convoys.After the war Ruark joined the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. As the New York Times said, Ruark was "sometimes glad, sometimes sad, and often mad--but almost always provocative." Some of his columns were eventually collected into two books, I Didn't Know It Was Loaded (1948) and One for the Road (1949).As he grew in notoriety, Ruark began to write fiction; first for literary magazines, and then his first novel, Grenadine Etching in 1947.
After he began to gain success as a writer, Ruark decided that it was time to fulfill a lifelong dream to go on safari to Africa. Ruark took an entire year off and began a love affair with Africa.As a result of his first safari, Ruark wrote Horn of the Hunter, in which he detailed his hunt.
In 1953, Ruark began writing a column for Field & Stream magazine entitled ''The Old Man and the Boy''. Considered largely autobiographical (although technically fiction), this heartwarming series ran until late 1961.
Ruark's first bestselling novel was published in 1955. It was entitled Something of Value and was about the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya.
Sometimes belittled as “the poor man’s Hemingway,” Ruark has nevertheless retained a loyal following among fans of nature writing. Bland Simpson wrote that he produced “some of the best ‘portraiture in words’ of hunting, fishing and life in the field that we have.”
Ruark died in London on July 1, 1965 most likely as a result of alcoholism.
Robert Ruark is buried in Palamos, Spain.
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_R...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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February 12, 2009Disclaimer: the title has nothing to do with the book. A collection of essays on life in general. It was written in the late 40's, so most of the references are not still germaine but the substance of most of it still is. Though there's an essay about the banning of unescorted women in bars, before certain hours, after certain hours and at all that obviously is not still valid but was an interesting sociological history lesson for me.
December 3, 2011
On the whole I love Robert Ruark's writing...but mostly I love his outdoor writing.
If you're not familiar with Robert Ruark, that's understandable as most of his best work was written from !948 through 1965. The first book i ran across by him was Horn of the Hunter: The Story of an African Safari. Possibly some of you (classic movie buffs for instance) may be familiar with his novel SOMETHING OF VALUE a book about the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, which was made into a movie staring Rock Hudson and Sidney Poitier.
This book however isn't his outdoor work but a collection of articles, views by the writer on life, living and the world. He showcases his humor and....thought processes. The book didn't hold my interest as his outdoor books do, but it is worth a look for the humor and for the novelty.
What novelty you ask? Well, the book is dated, severely so. BUT that can be part of the charm here. This is one I'd "read in" rather than necessarily reading cover to cover. For instance, Mr. Ruark in writing a complimentary article about his wife mentions she is a feminist. That meant something a bit different then than it does now. We get a glimpse into a world gone and largely unimagined today. An example? She was annoyed, angered even outraged at diners, delicatessens and clubs that refused to admit "unescorted women" or "two women alone".... We even get a few rather snide comments from Ms. Ruark.
There is a look at history and a sort of double dose of humor, that intended and that added by time.
So, while I didn't gobble this book up as I have some of his others and didn't read it "cover to cover" I did laugh. Not a bad read if it suits you.
If you're not familiar with Robert Ruark, that's understandable as most of his best work was written from !948 through 1965. The first book i ran across by him was Horn of the Hunter: The Story of an African Safari. Possibly some of you (classic movie buffs for instance) may be familiar with his novel SOMETHING OF VALUE a book about the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, which was made into a movie staring Rock Hudson and Sidney Poitier.
This book however isn't his outdoor work but a collection of articles, views by the writer on life, living and the world. He showcases his humor and....thought processes. The book didn't hold my interest as his outdoor books do, but it is worth a look for the humor and for the novelty.
What novelty you ask? Well, the book is dated, severely so. BUT that can be part of the charm here. This is one I'd "read in" rather than necessarily reading cover to cover. For instance, Mr. Ruark in writing a complimentary article about his wife mentions she is a feminist. That meant something a bit different then than it does now. We get a glimpse into a world gone and largely unimagined today. An example? She was annoyed, angered even outraged at diners, delicatessens and clubs that refused to admit "unescorted women" or "two women alone".... We even get a few rather snide comments from Ms. Ruark.
There is a look at history and a sort of double dose of humor, that intended and that added by time.
So, while I didn't gobble this book up as I have some of his others and didn't read it "cover to cover" I did laugh. Not a bad read if it suits you.
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August 1, 2012I found humor in most of these essays, but I'd say this book is a little dated based on the author's beliefs in equal treatment of women, unless I wasn't catching on to some subtle sarcastic humor. I'd say if you can put his (possibly genuine) sexist remarks aside, you should give it a read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews